Managing employees is never a walk in the park. You need to cultivate a wide range of skills to motivate workers, stay organized, meet deadlines, earn respect, and maintain control. Unless you’re naturally charismatic, one of the most difficult tasks of management is earning respect from not only employees, but also co-workers, partners, vendors, and the press. Finding the balance of fun and function in your personality at work can be a challenge. Follow these three tips to put yourself on a path of respect around the office.
Always Protect Professionalism
Some of the most brilliant and respected leaders in the world were disheveled clothes or have filthy or disorganized desks. These leaders often pop up where everyone dresses in a similar fashion or works in similar environments. The majority of respected leaders dress in a professional business office or industry- specific attire and maintain clean organized work spaces. If you fail to project professionalism at all times, someone who doesn’t know you might think that you’re a grossly inadequate choice for serving in a management role. Match the environment you work in and always maintain a level of appropriate professionalism in all your interactions.
Make Yourself Invaluable
Learn as much about your industry and the people you interact with daily so you’re better prepared to provide everyone with the assistance and leadership they desire. Good managers may not know everything about their industry, but they become known as a resource who can answer questions or point to other quality resources. Good managers also show that they’re invested in employee health and happiness. They take the time to learn about the their employee’s lives outside of the workplace so they can cultivate better work relationships and help employees live more fulfilling overall lives.
Invest in Education
A “one size fits all” approach to management never works. Instead, you must grow your management style from the seeds of your personal and professional abilities and strengths. On-site and off-site education in leadership is a critical foundation for every leadership scenario. Good and great leaders might lead well at first without an education, but they do best everywhere with the addition of new knowledge and skills. For example, getting a master’s degree program in organizational development from a reputable academic institution can help you become more self-aware and reflective when judging your leadership abilities, aid you in improving the effectiveness of production and other processes, teach you how to better mentor employees, and prepare you for future success planning. These are only a few small ways you can become a more respected manager. Additionally, you should always ask for feedback from your co-workers and other business leaders. Become a resource and invaluable asset to your company and industry by doing your part.
